What Low-Carb Food Can I Make Ahead & Freeze?

Low-carb eggplant lasagna can be made ahead of time and frozen for busy days.

Following a low-carb diet can require you to spend a bit more time in your kitchen, since most commercially-prepared meals -- such as lasagna, meat pies, rice-based stir-fries and pizzas -- are too high in carbohydrates. Most low-carb plans eliminate or severely restrict the amount of pasta, dough and grain-based foods you can eat. To save time, cook in batches and freeze food in individual portions ahead of time so that you can more easily stick to your low-carb plan on busy days.

Eggplant Lasagna

Lasagna is an easy meal to prepare and freeze ahead of time, but its grain-based pasta is very high in carbohydrates. Make a low-carb version of your favorite lasagna by replacing the pasta with grilled eggplant slices. Prepare your lasagna as usual, but use the eggplant slices to layer it. Eggplant lasagna can be frozen for a couple of months without any problems. Zucchini slices are another good alternative to high-carb, wheat-based pasta if you don't like eggplant. Freeze your lasagna whole in its baking dish or portion it into smaller, heat-resistant glass containers. When you want to eat your low-carb lasagna, pop it in the oven to reheat.

Chicken Stir-Fry

Chicken stir-fries made with plenty of non-starchy vegetables and an adequate amount of chicken make a quick, low-carb meal. Whenever you have time, cook your favorite part of the chicken -- whether you prefer chicken legs, chicken breast or a mix of both -- and freeze the chicken meat into individual portions. Cook low-carb vegetables, such as onions, carrots, broccoli and cauliflower, and freeze them yourself or stock up on frozen vegetables. When you are ready to eat, reheat the cooked chicken and vegetables and combine them with tamari sauce, ginger or coconut milk.

Meat Patties

Meat patties are a convenient and versatile protein around which to build your low-carb meals when you are in a hurry. On the weekend, cook as many patties as you think you will need to get through the week and freeze them in a plastic bag or plastic container with parchment paper in between so that they don't stick together. Use your meat patties to serve with some quickly stir-fried vegetables or reheated frozen vegetables. Or, prepare a bunless burger by melting a bit of cheese on your meat patty, adding mayonnaise, a few slices of bacon or avocado and wrapping your low-carb burger in lettuce leaves.

Meatloaf

Meatloaf recipes are easy to modify to make them low in carbs. Remove the breadcrumbs and replace them with almond meal or almond flour instead. Make your meatloaf ahead of time and freeze it whole or in individual servings. Accompany your low-carb meatloaf with mashed cauliflower puree, a salad or any of your favorite non-starchy vegetables.

Spaghetti Sauce

Even if you are following a low-carb diet, you can still enjoy spaghetti. Spaghetti sauce is low in carbs, especially if you make it with fresh tomatoes instead of commercial tomato sauces that often contain added sugar. Make a big batch on the weekend and freeze it. Instead of serving your low-carb spaghetti sauce on high-carb pasta, serve it on spaghetti squash or bean sprouts and add grated Parmesan cheese if desired.

About the Author

Aglaee Jacob is a registered dietitian. She has experience working with people who have diabetes, cardiovascular disease, hypertension and obesity issues. Jacob obtained a bachelor of science and a master of science, both in nutrition, from Laval University in Quebec City, Canada.